Leicestershire charity team up with local academy.
Year 4 pupils from Riverside Academy in Birstall joined members of Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland’s Day Clubs at Birstall Village Hall this June.
The action packed time included playing games such as skittles and balloon volleyball.
The real game star though was an interactive game that screens on the floor using a state-of-the-art £8,000 light projector that provides cognitive stimulation for people living with dementia.
Joe Matjasz, Phase 3/4 Lead from Riverside Academy said: "It is important for the children in our community to make links with the older generation.
"There are so many benefits for our children from this event including: communicating with and showing respect to our elder generations which will foster a good sense of community spirit that we want our children to have.”
Tony Donovan Executive Director of Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland said “Celebrating our 70th with the children from Riverside Academy is a fun way to show the support that the charity has provided to thousands of local older people and families over the years.
"Age UK is a federation of charities meaning that we are separate charity from Age UK England and we rely on making our own funds to keep services going locally.
"Day Clubs are a prime example of a valued service offering day time care and activities for older people living with health issues or who may otherwise be socially isolated.”
Corinne Aldis from Birstall whose husband John lives with dementia and attends a Day Club twice a week commented, “John really looks forward to going to the group, so much so that we plan our time away not to coincide with his days there.
"The staff are really lovely and they put on activities such as games, lunches out and at Christmas they had a singer. John never dances but he did that day!”
The charity is this year celebrating its platinum year and wanted to highlight the support it gives to thousands of older people and their families each year.
There are around 900,000 people living with dementia in the UK which predominantly affects the over 65s. This number is growing and is expected to reach over one million by 2025.
The charity's Day Clubs offer a vital lifeline of daytime care, activities and friendship for people living with dementia in eight venues around Leicestershire and supports around 500 older people a week.
Celebrating seventy years of supporting the local community, the charity provided a great opportunity for children to chat and play with older people living in their community.
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